Belfast -

BELFAST – Les Petits Chanteurs and Chamber Ensemble, a group of 30 schoolchildren and young men from Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will perform in BelfastÂ at 7p.m. Friday, Oct. 1 at the First Baptist Church, 95 High St. The concert is sponsored by St. Margaretâ€™s Episcopal Church. The program will be both classical sacred and Haitian traditional music and is one of 40 concerts the group will give during its East Coast tour.
The choral group has traveled and performed frequently in the United States, but this year the trip is especially poignant. Their school, the only one of its kind in Haiti, was destroyed in the earthquake on Jan. 12. The youngsters and their chaperones hope to raise awareness of the rich musical traditions of Haiti and the need to rebuild Holy Trinity. The music school, a part of the Episcopal Churchâ€™s elementary school and cathedral complex, was begun in 1963 and has gained international recognition. It offers music education to more than 1,000 children from all economic classes. A Philharmonic Orchestra made up of school alumni and teachers has performed with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood and counts Boston Symphony members as teachers.
After a concert in Virginia on Sept. 12, David Cesar, the leader of the group, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, â€śWe want to show everyone the courage of the Haitian people. In 40 seconds, everything we had collapsed. But we will rebuild.â€ť He said â€śItâ€™s our 50th anniversary year. We wanted to celebrate, but four of our choir members died in January, so instead weâ€™re doing this in their memory.â€ť
The day after the earthquake, Cesar, an Episcopal priest as well as director of the Holy Trinity Elementary School, wrote to supporters in the United States â€śWe lost all of our instruments. Salle St. Cecile, the only concert hall in the country, was destroyed. If we are alive, we believe God has a special mission for us.â€ť
Concert admission is by donation. A reception will follow. All are invited.